I'll be renting a car to see the Cotswolds the week preceeding Easter but I'd also like to do some walking/hiking. Can anyone tell me which are the most exceptional walks through the countryside? The ones not to be missed? <BR>Also, is it unwise to find lodging as I travel at that time of year? Or are advanced reservations recommended? <BR> <BR>Thanks, in advance, for your help <BR> <BR>

Can anybody help? Cotswolds - England -April. <BR> <BR>Thanks

There are lots of fairly cheap books. I have the Ordnance Survey one, which details 15 or so walks of about 4 miles, along with a number of driving tours. <BR> <BR>The Cotswold Way is a maintained trail of &gt;100 miles from Bath to Chipping Campden via Cheltenham. It passes through or near several of the nicer villages in the Cotswolds. If time is short, I would look for walks north of Stroud. There are nice parts in the South, but the North is littered with lovely villages. The advantage of the Way is that it is very well marked and in good order. The "disadvantage" is that it is very famous and crowded - getting a table in a pub can be a nightmare. This weekend I was in Withington (not exactly a premier tourist village) and it was absolutely lovely - and jam packed with hikers! The doorway of the pub must have had 100 boots stacked up by it. <BR> <BR>The Cotswold Way runs up the west of the hills (Painswick-Cheltenham-Winchcombe-Broadway). Stow and its environs are bypassed completely, and are well worthwhile, but you have to make choices! <BR> <BR>For a touch of luxury in a stupidly pretty setting on the Way, there is Buckland Manor. <BR> <BR>Web site - www.cotswold-way.co.uk

Mike, <BR> <BR>Thanks for all the information. Where can I get my hands on that Ordnance Survey book you mentioned? My itinerary will include the following areas: 1. Bath and surrounding towns like Lacock and Castle Combe 2. Bibury and Burford 3. Stow, Bourton, and the Slaughters 4. Winchcombe 5. Stanton, Broadway, Snowshill, and chipping Campden. I read your general recommendation of sticking to the Way to the west of the hills. Can you give me any more specific information about paths/hikes with exceptional beauty, charm and (why not?) enchantment in the more specific areas that I intend to be? I'll be driving but don't want to miss out on the most fetching scenery to be seen on foot. <BR> <BR>I have heard of that Buckland Manor and it does sound quite lovely. Would it be risky for me to find lodging as I travel or should I reserve in advance? <BR> <BR>Thanks so much for your time Mike. I'd appreciate any additional input.

Several years ago we stayed at a farm B & B outside Tewkesbury. In the lounge they had a series of booklets "Pub Walks" compiled from articles in a local newspaper. Each walk had a pub about halfway along for a meal or drink break. <BR>We did a walk starting from Stanway House through Stanton (sp??) and up and over a hill, found a pack of ponies next to a hidden spring and passed fields of lambs finally returning to Stanway which is really a big mansion with a few cottages nearby. <BR>Our 8 year old loved it. The pub was halfway up the hill from Stanton and had a great view westward. Walk too 2-3 hours. Sorry I can't remember more details. You do need detailed directions however as the path changed direction every few hundred yards. Pretty much had to carry the directions in our hands. <BR> <BR>Have fun <BR>Con

Thanks for your input Con. I'll keep that trail in mind when I find myself a good, detailed walking guidebook

We have visited England many times to walk - Cotswolds is a great area. We usually stay in cottages but Bay Tree Inn in Burford was very nice - but this was a while ago. <BR> <BR>Good centers to "nest" while you take walks are: Burford (but a little south), Chipping Campden ( a little north) or Stow-in-the-wold (just right). All of these places have a lot of nice pubs and places to eat. <BR> <BR>Don't feel you have to stick to the "Way". As suggested, get the Ordinance book (barnesandnoble.com or adventuroustraveller.com -not sure of spelling)both have it. Also, when you visit a decent size town (like the ones I mentioned) just go into the local newspaper store and they will have plenty of books and guides. I bought one in Burford, sort of a packet with individual sheets for each hike, that was quite nice and very handy. <BR> <BR>We liked all the hikes (we usually hike every day), I don't think you can go wrong. The hikes aren't "spectacular" like the Lake District or Switzerland for example. But they were very, very enjoyable. For example, you'll be walking through a little valley and come across a little church in the middle of nowhere that dates back 1,000 years and has stones from Roman times. So interesting. So pretty. <BR> <BR>Have fun - I don't think April will be crowded. Take sweaters/windbreakers to layer up. And be prepared to walk through some mud - at least we encountered mud in November two years ago. <BR> <BR>My husband just dropped by and added that he liked the hike that stared out of Stanton - but he really liked them all. As a side note, there was a small modern "bistro" type restaurant in Chipping Campden, a few doors down from the Cotswold House, that had the most AMAZING Cream of Mushroom soup. Made with steamed milk, very frothy and wonderful. And I don't even like mushroom soup. Just thought I would mention it in case..... <BR> <BR>

Thanks, Jane, for your kind attention. You gave me some very good suggestions that I'll follow. You make it sound absolutely lovely. <BR> <BR>Thanks again.

We did have a little trouble finding accomodation over the long Easter weekend (Monday is a holiday not sure about Good Friday). Many English citizens are on the move then too! You might want to make sure of a place to stay those nights. The other nights before and after that long weekend were no problem. <BR>Con

When I was in the area earlier this year, i came across a flyer that listed several walks that were going on that month. So you might find a similar copy when you go. <BR> <BR>I also recommend checking the British Walking Federation for the list of their 'year round walks' in that area. There might also be a regular club walk that might be fun

Thanks again.

I would second the suggestion about the 'Pub Walks' book, we have done a couple of good hikes based on Snowshill and Bibury from such a publication. Also check out this web site, http://146.101.253.22/homepage/ <BR>I gives details of loads of walks all around the country. I have done a few of the hikes local to my hometown and they were very good, could be worth checking out the Cotswold/Gloucestershire listings.

Ordnance Survey ISBN 0749503726 (unless reprinted). Does not cover Bath or Burford areas. <BR> <BR>The CW covers parts 4 and 5 of your itinerary. <BR> <BR>Castle Combe area. Pretty pub/hotel in Ford called The White Hart. Next village to Castle Combe. There must be a footpath from Ford to Castle Combe up the river valley. <BR> <BR>Good Friday is a Holiday, as is Easter Monday. Certainly have bookings for Thursday night through Sunday night. I would think about reservations for lunch/dinner. Popular pubs may be heaving over the weekend, and quite a few will take reservations for lunch, even in the bar. You will get food otherwise - you'll just have to wait!! <BR> <BR>PS lots of fair points made after mine - I would take some of their advice!

Thank you Jan and Mike. <BR> <BR>Any bed & breakfasts that anyone would highly recommend? If I'll be staying in the Stow-on-the-Wold/Slaughters region for at least two days, can you recommend a great place to stay during that time. How about in the Broadway, Stanton, Snowshill, Chipping Campden region, also for a couple of days? <BR> <BR>Also, if you had to choose between seeing Painswick or Bibury, which would choose? My schedule will only permit one of them, I think. <BR> <BR>And finally, how long will it take, roughly, to drive from Bath to Bibury? How about from Bibury to Stow? <BR> <BR>Thanks again. I feel like I should be paying you all for your time and advice! I really appreciate it.

Would anyone else care to give input? I'd be most grateful.

From bath, I would go thru Devizes (see the locks) and Avebury then trhu Swindon to Lechlade and then via the small backroads into Bibury

to the top <BR>

Sad to say, there has been an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in the UK. Government and farmers are urging people to avoid walking across farms, and the associations connecting with rambling and organised walks are co-operating. All movements of farm livestock are stopped completely - horses for racing may be stopped as well if the outbreak spreads much further. <BR> <BR>If this is not controlled by April, it will affect your holiday plans. Doing more touring by car and walking exclusively on roads would be the order of the day. Using Farmhouse B&Bs may present problems.

Mike <BR> <BR>What in the world is Foot and Mouth disease. Are you being serious?

in the US it is called 'hoof and mouth' disease. it is a real disease and i did see an article concerning an outbreak in Britain this last week.